Walk Audit Results Florida Consumer Action Network Foundation Lisa Frank and Erik Myxter-Iino Thank you for inviting me here today. Intros- Lisa: moved here from Ptld, St Pete could be even better. Erik: picked St. Pete for walking, biking, beaches- working w/ FCAN to make it even better.

About Us FCAN Foundation conducts research and public education on Florida consumer issues and seeks to empower consumers to fight back on utilities, health care, insurance, federal budget issues, the environment, and financial services reform. FCAN Foundation sponsors non-partisan voter registration drives, voter education, and "Get Out The Vote" campaigns. establish in 1984, issues in include utilities, environment, health care, insurance, and transportation. Health has been common theme. Transportation is natural fit.

Complete Streets Safe for all ages and abilities Balance the needs of different travel modes Support the local land use context NOT a one-size-fits-all solution Grant from Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, working with City

Today’s Presentation Overview General Observations Detailed Findings Recommendations Erik

Walk Audits 18th Avenue South 22nd Avenue South 34th Street at 54th Avenue South MLK/9th Street 16th Street/13th Avenue North 28th Street North What, why, how/who How we picked streets: recommendations from community members and leaders like yourselves, input from City transportation officials, and focused on important corridors (transit, bigger, schools) not local streets

AARP Walk Audit Toolkit Crossing Streets and Intersections Sidewalks Driver Behavior Comfort and Appeal Overall Safety Observations AARP Walk Audit Toolkit

Booker Creek Neighborhood

A couple blocks away…

Overall Rankings 18th Ave S Good Good/Fair 22nd Ave S Fair 54th Ave S Street Crossings Sidewalks Driver Behavior Overall Safety Comfort and Appeal Overall Rating 18th Ave S Good Good/Fair 22nd Ave S Fair 54th Ave S MLK/9th St Excellent/Good 16th St N Fair/Poor 28th St N

Crossing Streets and Intersections Wide intersections Long wait times Wide turning radii Lack of curb cuts Marked crosswalks

Sidewalks Usually present Cracks Not fully accessible Too narrow or close to curb

Driver Behavior Speeding Right turns Cellphone use

Comfort and Appeal Bus stops Street trees Other amenities

Priorities for Each Walk Audit Detailed Findings Priorities for Each Walk Audit

18th Avenue South Speed Lighting Bike accommodations Sidewalk width Bus stop amenities Linsey Speed- very little traffic so people could go much faster than speed limit, wide open road Lighting- we did this during the day but group members who live here shared that there’s only lighting on one side, very dark Bikes- no bike lanes so we saw lots of people riding on sidewalk- not great for anyone! Sidewalk width: narrow, adjacent to traffic Bus stop: the stop in the photo here was better than most- had a bench, some shade from trees, accessible. Some stops were just in dirt with no sidewalk or ramp or seating.

22nd Avenue South Repair pedestrian audible signals Complete the sidewalks Garbage cans Repair/upgrade bus stops Four to three lane conversion Erik (backup Gary) None of intersections had audible signals; at “push to walk” crossings some lights and beeps were not working North side had extensive sidewalk gaps as you see in this photo No garbage cans, would help with litter especially near bus stops and empty lots Group thought it important to repair/upgrade bus stops- seating, lighting, connection to sidewalks Groups were just prioritizing problems but some took it a step further and discussed solutions; recommended 4 to 3 lanes to add sidewalks, bike lanes, turn lane Personal story: intersection at 49th St- 2 major problems on NE and SW corners- peds had nice crosswalk one going into a ditch & one into an island with no sidewalks, difficult for anyone of any ability to walk there but especially someone using a wheelchair, walker, stroller, or sight-impaired would find it impossible to navigate

54th Avenue South/34th Street Road too wide to cross Narrow sidewalk with no buffer Drivers don’t yield (right turns) Broken/cracked sidewalks Bus stop with no shelter More than 4 lanes with no median Underpass narrow, unpleasant; and on 34th FDOT does not currently allow street trees which would provide a nice buffer Right turn: slip lanes As with every other walk audit, there were cracks in the sidewalks No shelter particularly big problem given lack of trees around this intersection Debbie

MLK/9th Street Bus stops Bike lanes worn away Wide turning radius On-demand crosswalk LEDs Timed lights This is another group that focused on solutions! Bus stops did not have shelter/were not covered Bike lanes: vehicle encroachment, would be better to have physically protected bike lanes eg with curb like on 1st Ave S Crosswalks??? Lights are timed to encourage speeding- you need to drive just a little too fast to make the green light; slow timing so that vehicles at slow speeds can keep moving steadily Erik

13th Avenue North/16th Street Incomplete sidewalks Narrow bike lanes and sidewalks on 13th Ave N Crosswalks Speeding Wide turning radius Complete the sidewalk network Overhaul bikeway and ped facilities on 13th Ave- observed more people biking than walking, need to accommodate Many crosswalks not marked or needed repainting, and no audible signals The group discussing this recommended Better speed enforcement- could also utilize road design strategies Sharpen curb angle George

28th Street North Sidewalks- fix cracks and gaps General upkeep Curb cuts Vehicles blocking sidewalk Drivers not yielding to pedestrians ie. right turns Sidewalks- fix cracks and gaps, particularly by 22nd Ave N and the railroad tracks where sidewalks are discontinuous and there are tripping hazards Need to trim branches, clean debris and leaves Corners should have 2 curb cuts or ramps at right angles but many only had one and lacked textured markings for people who are sight-impaired Saw some parked cars on sidewalk especially near 22nd Drivers turning too fast not looking for peds Gary- backup Debbie

Overarching focus areas Sidewalk maintenance and repair Address speed through roadway design Improve bicycle and transit facilities Pursue road diets Recommendations Overarching focus areas

Other Considerations Lighting Rush hour Additional data Didn’t do these at night other than MLK. No lights on 22nd Ave S; 18th only has lights one side of street.

Thank you!

Lisa Frank, Campaign Organizer 3110 1st Ave N, Suite 2K St. Petersburg, FL, 33713 lisa@fcan.org 727-327-2400